Safety buckle



Dec. 27, 1966 P. W. sHAl-ER 3,293,714

SAFETY BUCKLE Filed June 25, 1964 United States Patent 3,293,714 SAFETY BUCKLE I Philip W. Shafer, 9417 S. 77th Court, Hickory Hills, Ill. Filed June 25, 1964, Ser. No. 377,948 6 Claims. (Cl. 24-201) This invention relates to a safety buckle and more particularly to a safety buckle which utilizes magnets to hold the buckle in an attitude for locking opposite ends of a belt together, but in which the buckle may be readily and simply unlocked by sliding the magnets relative to each other.

Seat belts for motor vehicles have been generally accepted as a desirable safety appliance to be used by occupants of such vehicles. Although seat belts are particularly desirable, it is important to provide a seat belt buckle construction which may not only be readily buckled into a locked relationship but which may also be easily unfastened. It is particularly desirable to provide a safety buckle construction wherein there are no moving parts so that a lock may not become jammed in a closed attitude. It is readily apparent that should a catastrophe occur while occupants of a motor vehicle are wearing seat belts and it -becomes imperative that they free themselves of the seat belts immediately, there is no leeway for jamming of a moving part of a seat belt buckle. It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a safety buckle for use on seat belts, which buckle contains no moving parts and holds opposite portions of a seat belt together in a locking arrangement, but which buckle may be readily and simply loosened by appropriate movement of the parts to the seat buckle.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a safety buckle which is economical to manufacture and easy to produce.

It is a further object of this invention to provide safety buckle construction for use on an automobile seat belt in which the buckle stays in alignment.

It is a still further object of the herein-disclosed invention to provide a safety buckle construction in which the greater the force tending to pull the buckle apart, lthe better the holding power of thebuckle, but which buckle may be easily unlocked by an intelligent application of force.

Other objects and uses of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following specification in light of the accompanying drawing in which: 4

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a portion of a seat belt with a safety buckle mounted therein, which buckle embodies the herein-disclosed invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the buckle shown in FIGURE 1 taken on line 2 2;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of another form of a safety buckle embodying the present invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the seat buckle shown in FIGURE 2 showing a pair of screws in exploded view in order to show better the construction of the buckle.

Referring now to the drawing and especially to FIG- URE 1, a conventional automobile seat belt -generally indicated by numeral is partially shown therein with a safety buckle 12 embodying the herein-disclosed invention connected to the belt. The safety buckle 12 connects a first portion 14 of the belt with a second portion 16 of seat belt 10.

The safety buckle 12 includes two identical locking members 18 and 20. The locking member 18 includes a substantially flat belt holder 22 which has an offset plate 24 formed integral therewith and extending outward from the plane of the belt holder. An extension ice plate 26 is formed integral with the offset plate and is parallel to the belt`holder 22. The extension plate has a stop plate 2S formed integral therewith and perpendicular thereto. As may be clearly seen in FIGURE 2, the stop plate intersects a plane determined by the belt holder 22. A retainer plate 30 is formed integral with the stop plate 28 and is parallel to the extension plate 26. An open ended channel, which has a generally U-shaped cross-section, is formed by the extension and retainer plates and the stop plate.

A bar magnet 32 is fixed to the retainer plate. The bar magnet has ra right triangular cross-section with one side adjacent to the retainer plate and another side adjacent to the stop plate, while the longest side, or the hypotenuse of the triangle, faces the extension plate. The bar magnet has a pair of threaded openings 34 and 36 which register with a pair of openings in the retainer plate30. Screws 38 and 40 are mounted in the openings 34 and 36, respectively, to secure the bar magnet to the retainer v plate.

The belt holder 22 has a pair of belt slots 42 and 44 thereby forming Ia belt bar 46 in the holder. Portion 14 of belt 10 is looped around the belt bar 46 through slots 42 and 44, and a buckle 48 holds the belt in a closed relation. Thus, the belt has one portion secured to the belt holder 22. Y

The locking member 20 has a belt holder 50 which is identical to belt holder 22. An offset plate 52 is formed integral with belt holder 50 and an extension plate 54 is formed integral with the offset plate. A stop plate 56 is formed integral with the extension plate and the stop plate is perpendicular to the extension plate 54. A retainer plate 58 is formed integral with stop plate 56 and the retainer plate is parallel to the extension plate 54 and the belt holder 50. An open ended channel having a U-shaped cross-section is formed by stop plate 56 with retainer plate 58 and extension plate 54 forming the arms. A magnet 60 having a right triangular cross-sec-y tion is fixed to the retainer plate S8 in the same manner that magnet 32 is fixed to retainer plate 30.

The belt holder 50 has portion 16 of the seat belt attached thereto. The belt holder 50 has a pair of slots 62 and 64 forming a belt bar 66. The portion 16 is looped around belt bar 66 through slot 62 and 64 and is fixed to itself in a conventional manner to secure portion 16 to the belt holder 50.

The instant buckle is made in a conventional manner in that the locking members, which are in this instance made of aluminum flat stock, are formed in their particular conguration and the bar magnets are then fixed to the retainer plates. The -belt portions are secured to the lock members to complete a seatbelt.

The instant safety -buckle is used in the following manner. The lock members are placed adjacent to each other so that opposite poles of bar magnets 60 and 32 are placed adjacent to each other, thereby the mutual attraction of the magnets holds the magnets in firm engagement. It should be noted that by virtue of the fact that the opposite poles of the magnets are placed in engagement with each other, there is always an alignment of the two lock members. lnasrnuch as like poles 0f magnets repel, the magnets always position themselves rel-ative to each other with the lock members properly aligned. It there is to be a lateral shift of the lock members, the repulsion of like poles always forces the magnets to move toward an attitude whereby opposite poles are adjacent to each other, thereby creating proper `alignment in the buckle.

With the lock members in proper alignment, it may be seen that the belt holders are in substantially the same plane so that, when there is a load applied to the seat belt, therev is no twistingY of the beltbuckle, but rather the belt buckle remains properly aligned. It may be further noted that the buckle construction is such that when a tensile force is applied to the belt, the magnets slip slightly relative to each other until the retainer plate 58 comes into. engagement with extension member 26 and retainer plate 30 cornes into rengagement with extension plate 54.- Thus, there is a firm locking of the lock members relative to each other.

It should be noted that the instant safety buckle may be released in a variety of fashions. lOne method of releasing the safety buckle is lto move the lock members axially relative to each other against the attractive force of the magnets. Thus, the buckle may be unlocked even while there is a force holding the buckle in firm engagement. Obviously the movement of the lock members relative to each other in an axial direction requires an in-l telligently applied force so that the buckle would not come undone in usage for its intended use, that is, of holding an occupant in a seat; however, the occupant may release the belt buckle by the application of an intelligent force. It is also obvious that the buckle may be unbuckled by pushing the belt holder plates toward each other .tol disengage the magnets.

It is evident that Ianother general form of lthe present invention may be made in which sharp cornersv are not utilized. This form is shown in FIGURE 3. A safety buckle generally indicated by numeral 100 is shown therein. The safety buckle 100 includes a lock member 102 and a second identical lock member 104. The lock member 102 includes a belt holder 106 with an offset portion 108 formed integral therewith. The offset portion 108 has an extension portion 110 formed'integral thereto. Stop portion 112 is formed integral with-the extension portion 110. A retainer portion 114 is formed integral withy the stop portion 112. A magnet 116 is secured to the retainer portion-114 in the same manner that magnet `32 is secured to retainer plate 30. The lock member 104 includes a belt holder portion 118 with an offset portion 120 formed integral therewith. The extension portion 122 is formed integral with the offset portion and a stop portion 124 vis formed integral with the extension portion. A retainer portion 126 is formed integral with the stop portion. Magnet 128 which is identical to magnet 116 is fixed to the retainer portion 126.

The magnets 128 and 116 hold the lock members 102 and 104 in proper alignment. The operation of the safety buckle 100 is identical to the. operation of the safety buckle 12 which was described in detail above. The significant difference betweenbuckle 100 and buckle 12 is that the buckle 100 does-not have any sharp bends in its construction.

Although a specific construction of the herein-disclosed safety buckle has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe instant invention. It is to be expressly understood that the instant invention is limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetic buckle for a seat belt comprising an open ended channel, a belt fastener connected to the open ended channel and being adapted for attachment to a portion of a seat belt, a magnet connected to the open ended channel, a second magnet engageable with the first mentioned magnet, a second open ended channel connected to the second magnetand being engageable with the first mentioned open ended channel for locking therewith, a second belt fastener connected to the second open ended channel and being adapted for attachment to a second portion of the seat belt, whereby the attraction of the magnets holds the channels aligned and in position for firm engagement upon the application of a load to the seat belt.

2. A magnetic buckle for a seat belt comprising a pair of substantially flat belt holders adapted for attachment to a respective portion -of a seat belt, an offset plate formed integral with each of the belt holders and extending out of a plane determined by its respective belt holder, a generally U-shaped open ended channel having one arm formed integral with one end of the offset plate and havling the bott-om of the U-shaped open ended channel intersecting the plane determined by its respective belt holder, and a bar magnet mounted in each of the channels, whereby the bar magnets hold the channels in position for' locking engagement and the offset plates position the belt holders in the same plane when the channels are in a locking position.

3. A magnetic buckle for a seat belt comprising a pair of substantially flat belt holders adapted for attachment to a respective portion of a seat belt, an offset portion formed integral with each of the belt holders, a generally U-shaped cross-section open ended channel formed integral with each of the offset portions, each of said channels having its bottom portion intersecting a plane determined by its respective belt holder, and a bar magnet fixed in each of the channels, each of said bar magnets having a triangular cross-section, whereby the mutual attraction of the bar magnets holds the channels in a locking attitude with the belt holders in substantially the same plane and application of a force to the belt causes the magnets to slide relative to each other and the channels to engage each other.

4. A magnetic buckle for a seat belt comprising a substantially flat belt holder adapted for attachment to a porti-on of a seat belt, an offset portion formed integral with the belt holder, an extension portion formed integral with the offset portion, a stop portion formed integral with the extension portion, a retainer portion formed integral with the stop portion and being spaced from the extension portion to cooperate with the extension portion and the stop portion to form a generally U- shaped cross-section, a bar magnet connected to the retainer portion, a second bar magnet attracted to and engageable with the first mentioned bar magnet, a second retainer portion positionable between the first mentioned retainer portion and the first mentioned extension portion and lbeing connected to the second bar magnet, a second stop portion formed integral with the second retainer portion, a second extension portion formed integral with the second stop portion and cooperative with :the stop portion and the retainer portion to form a crosssection having a generally U-shape, a second offset portion formed integral with the second extension portion, and a second substantially flat belt holder formed integral with the offset portion and being adapted for attachment to a second portion of the seat belt, whereby the bar magnets hold the respective retainer portions aligned with each other and positioned between the opposite retainer and extension portions.

5. A magnetic buckle for a seat belt comprising a belt holder adapted for an attachment to a portion of a belt, an offset plate formed integral with the belt holder, an extension plate formed integral with the offset plate and being substantially parallel to the belt holder, a stop plate formed integral with the extension plate and being substantially perpendicular to the extension plate, a retainer plate formed integral with the stop plate and being substantially parallel to the extension plate, a bar magnet connected to the retainer plate, a second bar magnet engageable with the first mentioned bar magnet to be held in engagement therewith by the mutual attraction of the magnets, a second retainer plate connected to the second bar magnet and being positionable between the extension plate and the first mentioned retainer plate, a second stop plate formed integral with the second yretainer plate, a second extension plate being formed integral with the second stop plate and being substantially parallel to the second retainer plate, a second offset plate formed integral with the second extension plate, and a second belt holder formed integral with the second offset plate and being adapted for attachment t-o a second portion of the seat belt, whereby the `attraction of the bar Imagnets holds the various parts in an aligned relationship and the buckle is loosened by sliding the bar magnets relative to each other to remove lthe second retainer plate from position between the first mentioned retainer plate and the rst mentioned extension plate.

6. A magnetic buckle for a seat belt comprising =a substantially at belt holder adapted for attachment to a portion of a seat belt, an offset plate formed integral with the belt holder and extending outward from a plane determined by the belt holder, Ian extension plate formed integral with the offset plate and being substantially parallel to the belt holder, a stop plate formed integral with the extension plate and being substantially perpendicular to the extension plate and intersecting a plane determined by the belt holder, a retainer plate formed integral with the stop plate and being substantially parallel to the extension plate, a bar magnet having a right triangular cross-section positioned adjacent to the retainer plate with its longest side adjacent to the extension plate, screws securing the bar magnet to the retainer plate, a second bar magnet having a right triangular cross-section having its longest side engageable with the longest side of the first mentioned bar magnet to be held in engagement therewith by the mutual attraction of the magnets, a second retainer plate adjacent to the second bar magnet and being positionable between :the extension plate and the iirst mentioned retainer plate, second screws securing the second bar magnet to the second retainer plate, a second stop plate formed integral with the second retainer plate and being substantially perpendicular thereto, a second extension plate formed integral with the second stop plate and being substantially parallel to the second retainer plate, a second offset plate formed integral with the second extension plate, and a second substantially flat belt holder adapted for attachment to a second portion of the seat belt and being formed integral with the second offset plate, said second belt holder being substantially parallel to the second extension plate, whereby attraction of the bar magnets holds the two belt holders in substantially the same plane and application of a force to the seat belt causes the bar magnets to slide relative to each other and place the first mentioned retainer plate in firm engagement with the second extension plate and the second retainer plate in firm engagement with the first mentioned extension plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,227 lO/Z Hornik 24-230 2,959,832 11/ 1960 Baermann 24--201 3,063,118 11/ 1962 Salter et al 24-201 3,080,635 3/196'3 Gunther et al. 24--230 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,193,277 4/1959 France.

1,050,103 2/ 1959 Germany.

OTHER REFERENCES German application No. 1,050,103, February 5, 1959.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

E. SIMONSEN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MAGNETIC BUCKLE FOR A SEAT BELT COMPRISING AN OPEN ENDED CHANNEL, A BELT FASTENER CONNECTED TO THE OPEN ENDED CHANNEL AND BEING ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO A PORTION OF A SEAT BELT, A MAGNET CONNECTED TO THE OPEN ENDED CHANNEL, A SECOND MAGNET ENGAGEABLE WITH THE FIRST MENTIONED MAGNET, A SECOND OPEN ENDED CHANNEL CONNECTED TO THE SECOND MAGNET AND BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE FIRST MENTIONED OPEN ENDED CHANNEL FOR LOCKING THEREWITH, A SECOND BELT FASTENER CONNECTED TO THE SECOND OPEN ENDED CHANNEL AND BEING ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SECOND PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT, WHEREBY THE ATTRACTION OF THE MAGNETS HOLDS THE CHANNELS ALIGNED AND IN POSITION FOR FIRM ENGAGEMENT UPON THE APPLICATION OF A LOAD TO THE SEAT BELT. 